Abstract:
An apparatus and method for the monitoring and measurement of chemical and/or biological deposition in heat exchangers and other fluid processing vessels. The new and original sensing system includes at least two hollow fluid vessels conductively mounted across a constant heat transfer path. Thin film heat flux sensors are attached to a heat transfer surface of the vessels in order to measure changes in differential heat flux that occur when deposition begins to accumulate in the vessel. In this way, it is shown that differential heat flux measurements can be used to detect and measure the early onset of chemical and/or biological deposition.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a bone plating system and method for fracture fixation of bone. The bone plating system includes a bone plate, at least one locking screw, and at least one non-locking screw. The bone plate has locking holes with threads and non-locking holes. The locking screws have a shaft with a thread for engaging bone and a head with a thread configured and dimensioned to mate with the thread of the locking holes. The non-locking screws have a thread for engaging bone and a non-threaded head. Both the locking and non-locking screws remain seated in their respective holes for substantially as long as the bone plate is implanted. The non-locking screws compress the bone plate against the bone and hold fracture reduction while the locking screws are secured to the plate at a fixed angular relationship. The mixed fixation achieved by this bone plating system and method is particularly useful for treatment of per-articular fractures.
Abstract:
A breakaway highway delineator including a base member for resting on a roadway or other generally horizontal surface and a base member which is connected to the panel member. In a preferred embodiment, the panel member is moveable between a first, generally horizontal orientation and a second, generally vertical orientation. The base member has a cavity/receiving slot configured to hold part of the panel member when the panel member is disposed generally horizontally. The base member also interacts to hold the panel member generally vertical when the panel member is properly positioned within the base member so as (i) to prevent the panel member from being tipped over by gusts of wind and drafts created by trucks and other vehicles passing by the delineator, and (ii) to release the panel member when forcefully impacted, allowing the panel member to be pulled from the base member to minimize damage to vehicles.
Abstract:
A system for failure detection tools is disclosed. The system may include at least one user device, an application server, and a failure detection system, each of which may be in communication with one or more of the others via at least one network. The failure detection system may receive first data from a data source, process the first data to generate second data, apply a statistical modeling algorithm to make a prediction relating to the first data or the second data, and communicate data relating to the prediction and/or a trend related to the first data or the second data to the user device for displaying at least a portion of the data relating to the prediction and/or the trend on a display of the user device.
Abstract:
There is disclosed an electronic gaming system (100) comprising one or more player interfaces (6, 7, 17), and a main video display screen (1). The system enables players to simultaneously play a plurality of reel-type games and to place bets on lines of the games. The system displays a plurality of display windows on the main display screen, each window being associated with a respective one of the simultaneously played games and displaying the reels of that game, each reel displaying reel indicia. The system is configured for any one of the games to enter a feature phase when a feature-triggering event occurs. At the start of the feature phase, all the display windows on the main screen, except the particular display window associated with the feature phase, reduce in size or disappear, while the size of the feature game's display window increases, and the other games are also suspended, until the feature phase is completed.
Abstract:
A portable work tray designed to receive objects therein whereby the tray has a leveling assembly operatively connected thereto to allow the tray to be placed in a generally level manner upon engagement with a sloped surface. The tray includes four walls and a bottom with a pair of pivot arms oppositely mounted along two of the walls. Intermediately mounted to the pivot arms distal to walls is a support arm. The support arm has substantially disposed thereon a coating and/or a serrated edge to prevent the tray from traversing down the sloped surface.
Abstract:
A lockable fastener connects together a plurality of components of a circuit breaker and maintains electrical conductivity between the components while permitting relative movement therebetween. The lockable fastener includes a first clinch nut member and a second clinch bolt member. The clinch nut member includes a threaded cavity formed therein, a side having opening therein, and a passageway between the side at the opening and a surface proximate the threaded cavity. The clinch bolt member includes a threaded shank. At least a portion of the threaded shank is threadably receivable in the threaded cavity of the clinch nut member, in order to axially align the clinch nut and clinch bolt members. The clinch nut and clinch bolt members are adapted to be locked by deformation of the surface of the clinch nut member to prevent loosening of the members.
Abstract:
A circuit breaker includes a housing including a primary cover and a secondary cover having a tab; separable contacts; and an operating mechanism adapted to open and close the separable contacts. The operating mechanism includes a cradle pivotally mounted within the housing, the cradle including a latch, and a latch mechanism within the housing. The latch mechanism is adapted to capture the latch of the cradle when the separable contacts are closed. The operating mechanism also includes a rotary interlock pivotally mounted within the housing and cooperating with the latch mechanism and the tab of the secondary cover to release the latch of the cradle and to trip open the separable contacts when the secondary cover is removed from the primary cover.
Abstract:
An elastomeric seat bladder for a vehicle occupant weight estimation system includes a plurality of elastomeric tethers defined by bands or sheets of elastomeric material coupling upper and lower layers of the bladder within a peripheral weld in order to reduce fluid pooling and distention or bulging of the bladder due to localized loading. The elastomeric tethers are spot or seam welded to upper and lower sheets of the bladder; they extend to limit distension where required, and otherwise partially or fully collapse to minimize vertical shunting of occupant weight through the bladder.
Abstract:
Aspects of the invention relate to a turbine engine configuration and method for overcoming a turbine blade tip clearance problem that can arise when the turbine inlet temperature is maintained at a high level during part load operation of the turbine. Aspects of the invention relate to reducing rotor cooling air to a temperature below the design temperature level by using, for example, additional heat extraction devices or by reconfiguring or resizing existing heat exchanger devices. Upon exposure to the cooled air, the discs and blades of the turbine will shrink so as to provide a clearance between the blade tips and surrounding stationary support structure. The design rotor cooling air temperature can be from about 350 degrees Fahrenheit to about 480 degrees Fahrenheit. Aspects of the present invention can be used to decrease the rotor cooling air to about 150 degrees Fahrenheit at about 70 percent load.